Australian Car Spotters Guide - 1982

Improved vision made the XD a most controllable car for its size. While comfort was adequate, unfortunately the driving position suffered the same fault as previous Falcons insofar as the steering wheel was too close to the chest and the old-fashioned umbrella-type handbrake was retained. The European Sports Pack (ESP) was released 15 months after the rest of the range, in June 1980. It was fitted as standard with the new 4.1 liter alloy head six, however the 5.8 liter V8 was available as an option. The ESP also featured a re-worked suspension system, which included higher-rate front and rear springs, a rear radius rod and Bilstein gas shock absorbers. The steering geometry and anti-sway bars were unique to the ESP.

The XE celebrated a defining point for Ford Australia as they finally passed GMH in the sales wars, and with a product that they least expected, the Falcon. With its revised front end design, utilising a wrapover bonnet that presaged the demise of the traditional grille in the future, the car was a mild re-style of its predecessor.

Released in March 1982, visually there was little to diferentiate the new model Fairlane from its predecessor, the ZJ. It was naturally under the skin where most changes occured, the most important being the improvement to the 4.1 liter six cylinder engine. Thanks mainly to the new Weber carburetor, power rose to 105kW @ 3800rpm. The suspension also came in for revision, the ancient leaf pring set-up finally being replaced with all-round coil springs and a Watts link rear suspension - at the time it being considered one of the best "non-independent" suspension systems available.

Seven years since the introduction of the Gemini and it was time yeat again for another face lift. It was no surprise to learn that the new model TF had a raft of appointment upgrades over the old model, but there were to be very few mechanical upgrades. The SL/X grille and headlight arrangement now closely resembled the VH Commodore and thus made the Gemini appear much larger. The tail lights on the Gemini were also revised to more closely resemble the Commodore, and the front indicators were set in the vertical position at each end of the grille (the side indicator lights now being deleted).

The Holden Camira can be remembered for many things, but at the time the important issues were that this was a "World Car", and it was GMH's first front wheeler. The Camira was sold in the USA as the Pontiac J2000, in the UK as the Vauxhall Cavalier, in Germany as the Opel Ascona and in Japan as the Isuzu Aska. Manufactured in Australia by Holden, the Camira was designed by Opel and used an international parts bin that included an Isuzu dash and transmission.

Amoung the changes included with the release of the VH was a revised grille with new front guards, the tail lights were given louvres similar in style to the Mercedes Benz tail lights of the day (designed as such to prevent dirt buildup and ensure clarity). And to add a little differentiation from the lesser models, the SL/E's tail lights stretched right up to the number plate recess. It is worth noting that the new front guards were designed in Australia, some thought as a deliberate move away from the German Opel shape.